Common Employment Provisions announced

State Services Minister David Parker announced
today that the government has agreed to introduce common
leave provisions in public service employment
agreements.

“The government’s purpose in introducing
common leave provisions is to provide consistency across the
public service.

“Establishing common provisions also
means that departments won’t waste time and effort
re-negotiating these provisions,” David Parker said.

The
provisions, which apply to the 35 public service
departments, have been agreed as part of the Partnership for
Quality Agreement between the government, the Public Service
Association, and the State Services Commissioner.

These
leave provisions are already in place in many departments,
and will be introduced across the rest of the public service
as part of regular departmental negotiations, or by
variation, prior to 1 July 2009, and are expected to apply
to all employees by then.

“Departments are generally
expected to absorb any increased costs within their
baselines and to seek productivity enhancements in the
ongoing process of bargaining,” David Parker
said.

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